The sound of explosions rang out like the tolling of a massive bell!
The fists of both sides collided fiercely, and a suffocating aura seeped out from the center of the impact!
It didn't happen just once.
The two continued exchanging the same attacks repeatedly, surpassing a hundred clashes in total!
Zhou Rouxue punched the empty air before her with all her strength.
The strike immediately generated a shockwave that sent the scattered leaves around her flying in every direction!
The middle-aged man facing her instantly raised his left hand, which was coated in Spirit Qi, to block the attack!
Caught!
Then, using his right hand, also wrapped in Spirit Qi, he lunged toward Zhou Rouxue's chest!
Eyes widening!
Zhou Rouxue immediately kicked her opponent in the chest, forcing the middle-aged man backward and making him release his grip on her right arm!
She instantly withdrew both hands and blocked the shockwave generated by the man's fist!
The backs of Zhou Rouxue's hands were struck heavily by the shockwave, injuring her and forcing her to stagger backward under the tremendous pressure!
Planting both feet firmly on the ground, Zhou Rouxue struggled to remain standing.
She looked exhausted, sweat flowing down her face.
The middle-aged man suddenly changed his fighting stance.
He raised his right hand before his mouth while placing his left hand behind his back.
With his eyes tightly closed, he began reciting an incantation.
"The sword is sharpened through the heart, and Sword Intent is born from the heart. Sword techniques are the tangible manifestation of effort."
He suddenly opened his eyes.
Blue-violet light shone brilliantly within them!
At the same time, ten transparent swords emerged from the void and floated behind his back.
They formed a circle.
The middle-aged man pointed forward toward Zhou Rouxue.
"Xingkong Sword Technique!"
All ten swords carrying killing intent instantly pointed toward Zhou Rouxue.
Then they shot forward!
They tore through the air at astonishing speed, rushing directly toward her!
Naturally, Zhou Rouxue wasn't about to stand there and do nothing!
She also unleashed her own sword technique!
Taking several steps backward, a transparent sword gradually materialized within her hand.
The sword, which had initially been transparent, instantly turned pure white and emitted a brilliant radiance in the blink of an eye!
Zhou Rouxue raised her sword and moved with graceful elegance.
"Bailian Sword Technique!"
Her blade beautifully slashed through the empty air before her.
The elegance of Zhou Rouxue's every movement entered Zhi Xuan's vision completely.
"This technique..."
A trace of interest appeared in Zhi Xuan's eyes.
At the same time, the ten swords rushing toward Zhou Rouxue produced a deafening noise as they collided with her sword!
Holding her weapon, Zhou Rouxue moved as though performing a dance.
No one would have imagined that a sword technique could possess such beauty.
Even Zhi Xuan was somewhat surprised.
However...
As Zhi Xuan looked ahead, Zhou Rouxue suddenly stumbled over a small pebble beneath her feet and fell to the ground.
At that very moment, a sinister smile appeared on the middle-aged man's aged face, which resembled the roots of an ancient tree.
"An opportunity!"
The middle-aged man charged toward Zhou Rouxue with sword in hand.
His vicious-looking blade was raised high overhead.
This was clearly an attempt to kill her!
The instant Zhi Xuan noticed this, he took a step forward and instantly arrived behind the middle-aged man!
Just as the middle-aged man was about to unleash his attack, his sword abruptly stopped.
His grip tightened around the hilt.
His shoulder suddenly felt an intense pain!
Even moving his body became difficult!
As he turned his head and glanced sideways, he saw a hand that had somehow landed on his shoulder without him noticing!
The hand suddenly tightened its grip with even greater force!
The pain immediately caused him to grimace and scream instinctively.
"Argh!"
His agonized cry filled the air and spread all the way to the ears of the Xuanwu Sect Leader.
Naturally, the Sect Leader became confused and tilted his head in puzzlement.
"What happened?"
...
"Senior..."
Zhou Rouxue looked behind the middle-aged man in surprise and discovered Zhi Xuan standing there with one hand resting on her opponent's shoulder.
"Who is that?"
"How did he suddenly appear there?"
"When did he get there?"
"Don't ask me. I didn't even see when he arrived!"
"Is he also a disciple?"
"No... I've never seen him before."
"He seems to be a new disciple."
"Don't joke around. How could a new disciple move that fast? Not only that, he effortlessly restrained a teacher. Even if that teacher is only at Peak Zhu Ji Realm and could be considered one of the weakest instructors, it's still impossible for us to fight him—let alone a newly joined disciple."
A young man stepped forward and stood among the other disciples.
"I don't think he's a disciple at all. In my opinion, he's probably one of the sect's instructors."
While the disciples continued discussing and speculating about Zhi Xuan's identity and origins,
Zhi Xuan suddenly spoke.
"That's enough. Aren't you ashamed of fighting a junior? Especially by resorting to such underhanded methods. If you possess any martial honor, don't take advantage of your opponent's misfortune."
The middle-aged man was forced to his knees as his strength rapidly drained away.
Zhi Xuan's grip was so powerful that he couldn't even stand up to resist!
The middle-aged man spoke in a heavy voice.
"Who... are you..."
His breathing became ragged as he forced out the words.
Zhi Xuan suddenly tightened his grip even further, causing the middle-aged man to scream loudly!
"Me? I'm your grandfather."
Zhi Xuan was clearly provoking him.
The words instantly ignited a blazing fire within the man's heart.
An immense fury surged through him!
He was an arrogant and prideful person.
He enjoyed bullying and humiliating others.
Yet now, he couldn't even resist a young man standing behind him!
Could he still hold his head high in the future if he were defeated by someone this young?
Of course not!
Therefore, the middle-aged man immediately chose to burn his own Blood Essence in order to forcibly raise his Cultivation Realm!
Flames erupted within his eyes.
Thick smoke poured from his mouth!
Zhi Xuan already knew this middle-aged man was insane and full of arrogance.
However, he had not expected him to go so far as to burn his own Blood Essence simply to defeat him.
Seeing this, Zhi Xuan merely released his shoulder and allowed the Blood Essence burning process to continue.
"You damn brat! Do you really think you can humiliate me in public?!"
The middle-aged man stood up as he shouted.
His Cultivation Realm surged dramatically!
From Peak Zhu Ji Realm, he broke into the Initial Jindan Realm and continued climbing toward even higher levels!
"Hmph."
Zhi Xuan smiled faintly with his arms crossed over his chest.
He stood there calmly, waiting to see what realm the Blood Essence burning would ultimately allow the man to reach.
Then, in the very next moment—
The Blood Essence burning process was completed!
The middle-aged man, who had originally appeared somewhat old with wrinkles resembling tree roots, suddenly became much younger!
He now looked like a man in his early thirties, with a strong and upright physique!
"Hahaha!"
His laughter boomed with vitality and vigor!
Not only had his appearance changed, but even his voice had become much younger!
Zhi Xuan was impressed by the transformation.
However, what impressed him even more was...
The middle-aged man's Cultivation Realm had reached the Peak Jindan Realm!
The middle-aged man clenched his fist.
"I, Yang Feng, have regained my youth! And..."
His gaze shifted and locked onto Zhi Xuan's face with intense hatred.
"Because of you, I was forced to burn my Blood Essence! In return, you shall pay with your life!"
His savage roar surged forth like towering waves, creating a deafening soundwave that echoed throughout the surroundings!